Blackmar wins, two-hits Biscuits Saturday

Birmingham starting pitcher Mark Blackmar led the Barons to a two-hit, shutout victory over Montgomery Saturday night at Riverwalk Stadium, giving the Barons their first win of the five-game series.

Blackmar (6-8, 3.63 ERA) snapped his four-game losing streak with arguably his best outing of the season. The right-hander threw 7.2 innings and tied his season-low of two hits. Previously, Blackmar tossed seven innings of two-hit baseball against Jacksonville on April 26 but gave up a run on a solo homer.

Biscuits' right-hander Austin Pruitt (10-7, 3.09 ERA) was tagged for the loss. The Barons plated three runs against the starter in the second inning, beginning with Danny Hayes' league-leading 94th walk. First baseman Chris Jacobs followed up with an RBI double, and Ryan Leonards drove home the second run on an RBI groundout to short. Jeremy Dowdy rounded out the scoring with an RBI single.

Marcus Lemon, who led the Birmingham offense with a 2-for-4 evening, picked up his second hit of the night in the sixth with an RBI single against Pruitt, driving home the fourth earned run charged to Montgomery's starter.

The Biscuits went to the bullpen following the sixth, throwing Matt Lollis for two innings and Brad Schreiber for the final frame. The two arms kept the Barons off the board for the remainder of the contest, but Birmingham's lead and pitching was too much to overcome.

Birmingham reliever Peter Tago threw the final 1.1 innings, earning one strikeout while not giving up a hit. The right-hander retired the side in order in the ninth to convert his sixth save of the year.

The Barons totaled six hits on the night, including singles from Jacob May and Nicky Delmonico. May also swiped his 37th stolen base, tying him for second in the Southern League in the category.

ON DECK Game four of the series pins Birmingham spot-starter Tim Crabbe (2-2, 2.41 ERA) against Montgomery right-hander Taylor Guerrieri. The Biscuits lead the series 2-1.